Electron tube mount



May 27, 1958 R. K. woLKE ET AL 2,836,746

ELECTRON TUBE MOUNT Filed Jan. 4, 1956 a 2 v s I a, i 5 w .w ro. l d F F lm @kan Y n 6 N. #mlm ICC/r M j HU um 47 4. z s ..3 HU n ..f u .n. w n uz M. ...8 u 0 4: .v A l n /lo 4 3 au mw... 2 z L' B 6.5@ H2 2 l ,W j n n M z ww ,M .w/W w Q, H vl f 6 4m;

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United States atent @thee 2,835,746 Patented May 27, 1958 nLscrnoN 'tiran MoUNT Roy K. Weihe, Maplewood, and Frank J. Pilas, Lyndhui-st, N. Il., assignors to Radio (Importation el America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 4, i956, Serial No. 557,288

11 Claims. (C. 313-6) The present invention is concerned with the art of electron tube mounts, and relates in particular to improvements in electrode cages for such mounts. Electrode cages of electron tubes commonly include electrodes that comprise at least a cathode and an anode, and a pair of insulating spacer plates sandwiching these electrodes between them for positioning the electrodes in a desired relation with respect to each other.

Previous plural cage electron tubes have usually had all of the components thereof assembled into a single, plural cage structure in a manner wherein a defective or missing component in any one of the cages resulted in a scrapping of the entire structure. Typicall such prior structures have had all or" the electrodes of the separate cages mounted between a single pair of spacer plates. The practice of mounting the electrodes of all of the cages between a single pair of spacer plates has required the use of relatively complicated and costly machinery in automatically assembling such structures. Since the loss due to scrapped assemblies increases geometrically with the number of the parts in the assembly, it is desirable to assemble the relatively complex plural cage structures referred to by integrating relatively simple subassemblies (each of which may be comprised of a 4complete cage which may be separately tested and scrapped if imperfeet) into plural cage structures. However, prio-r electrode cages do not readily lend themselves to integration in a multi-cage structure by available assembling techniques.

lt is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved plural cage structure for an electron tube which lends itself to relatively low cost assembling techniques.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an electron tube an improved plural cage structure that is comprised of relatively simple, self-supporting sub-assembly structures.

rThe foregoing and related objects are accomplished in an electron tube structure including two elongated, sideby-side electrode cages each having two spacer plates. One of the spacer plates of each cage has a transverse extent spanning only one of the cages. The other of the spacer plates has a longer transverse extent spanning both of the cages and serves to x the two cages into a unitary structure.

ln making such a plural cage structure the two cages are separately assembled into two self-supporting units, and then the units are positioned with the longer spacer plate of each cage lapped over the surface ofthe shorter spacer plate ot the otf dr cage to form a composite, selfsuppcrting structure. The double spacer plate thicknesses thus formed may be p ioned on opposite sides of the tube for ii reasing ruggedness and for decreasing microphonic noise production in the tube. rst separately assembling the separate cages of the plural cage Vstructure and then integrating the sub-assem lies thus formed into a complete plural cage structure is of The technique of a particular advantage. This advantage resides in the that presently available machines, which are used for making single self-supporting cage units, may be used for making each of the two cages included in the composite structure. The use of available machines is feasible due to the fact that each individual cage of a multiple cage structure according to the invention is a self-supper g structure.

The invention is described in greater detail in the drawing where like numerals refer to like parts, and wherein:

Fig. l is a partially cut-away side elevational view of electron tube mount incorporating the invention;

Eig. 2 is enlarged top plan view of one ofthe shorter spacer plates referred to andused in the mount of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a View illustrating a Step in the manufacture of the tube shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an electron tube embodying another aspect-of the invention.

Fig. l illustrates an electron tube 2 having electrode access terminals or prongs 4 at one end thereof" and an envelope 6 containing a plural cage mount 8 comprised of two like elongated, side-by-side cages, for example a triode and a tetrode cage, lll and l2, respectively. Each of the cages it? and l2 includes two relatively at spacer plates le, lo, l, and 2i), respectively. The triade cage l@ has, mounted between its two spacer plates 14 and le, a cathode ZZ surrounded by a wound grid 2e, the grid 24 being made up of a pair of side rods 26 having a lateral grid winding ZS. The grid 24, in turn, is surrounded by a she-et metal anode 3%. The tetrode cage l2 has, mounted between its two spacer plates l and 2l), a cathode 32 surrounded by a pair of concentrically wound grids 3d and 36 each having a pair of side rods, 38 and itl respectively, and a lateral grid winding, 42 and 44 respectively. The grids 3d and 36, in turn, are surrounded by a sheet metal anode 46. Each of the electrodes referred to has a portion at each of its opposite ends, Z2', 24', 32', 3d', 35', and de respectively, extending through the spacer plates of its cage. The electrodes are maintained in position within the tube 2 by means of the plates i4, le, itil, and 2i?.

The two spacer plates of each cage are spaced the saine distance apart as the spacer plates of the other cage. One of the plates i6 and 13 of each cage is relatively short and has a transverse extent spanning only its own cage. The other of the plates of each cage, le and 29 respectively, are relatively long and each has a transverse extent spanning both of the cages and is lapped over the shorter plate of the other cage for fixing the cages into a plural-cage structure. Each of the two cages of the structure is consequently self-supporting and is to be separately assembled at one location and transported to another location for integration into a composite, selfsupporting multiple cage mount.

The double spacer plate thicknesses created at diagonally opposite ends of the plural cage mount eiects an increased ruggedness of the tube by enabling tbc mount to bet-r withstand stresses ksuch as those caused by impact. Also, since each cage has a pair of spacer pistes at one end, the double spacer plate thickness apparently gives rise to a relatively rirm gripping of the electrodes by the plates. ribis gripping prevents the electrodes from moving relative to the plates and consequently reduces electrical disturbances caused by such motion.

Fig 2 illustrates an enlarged top plan view of one of the shorter spacer plates, namely the shorter plate Sfof the second cage l2. rihis plate i3 has one aperture 43 adapted to receive the cathode extension portion 32'; a rst pair of apertures Sil, on opposite sides of the cathode receiving aperture 4e, each adapted to receive one of the extensionportions 34 of the inner `grid 34; a second pair of apertures 52, onlopposite sides of the rst apertures 4 50, each adapted to` receive one of the extension portions 3650i the outer grid 36; and a third pair of apertures 54,

through the first pair of apertures 50, each adapted to n receive one of the extension portions 46' of the anode 46.

As shown in Fig. 3, the portion of the long'spacer plate 14 adapted Vto span the short spacer plate 18 of the Vsecond-cage 12 has similarlyroriented apertures.4 Each of the apertures in the long spacer plate 14, which is adapted to receive the same electrode extension yportion as a corresponding aperture in the short spacer plate 18, is

' indicated by a reference numeral corresponding to the reference numeral ofthe similarly oriented aperture in the short spacer plate. The other` long spacer plate 2@ also has apertures 56 and 58 torreceive, respectively, the

electrode extension portions 22 and 24 of the rst cage.

The apertures adapted to'receive the extension portions f of the anode Vof the lirst cage are not shown in the drawing.

Assembly of the cagesV kThe two cages 10 and12, after being separately assembled, are positioned with the long spacer plate 14 and 2t) of each cage lapped over the surface of the short spacer Y plate, 18 and 16 respectively, of the other cage.

Fig. 3 illustrates the method by which the two cages 10 and 12 are assembled into a unitary plural cage mount.

The cages Vare tirst positioned in axial alignment. By axial alignment of the cages there is meant axial alignment of the long spacer platesy 14 and 20. The rst cage 10 has its short spacer plate 16 facing downwardly andV the other cage 12 has itsshort spacer plate 18 Vfacing upwardly; the short spacer plates 16 and 18 of the cages are adjacent to each other and on opposite sides of a reference plane 60 parallel to the axes of the cages; and `the spanning portion of each long spacer plate 14 andV ment of each of the electrode receiving apertures 48 to 58 of the spacer plates with` each other. Y

' One'of the two cages, 12, is seated on an anvil 62 having recesses 64 and 66 each adapted to receive the electrode extension portions on one side ofra cage (the lower electrode extension portions of, respectively, the

Yfirst and second electrode cages 1t) and 12 shown in the drawing). The long 'spacer plate 29 of the second cage 12 is supported by the upper surface 63 of the anvil 62. The first cage 10 is Ysupported in axial alignment with the second cage 12 and above the anvil 62 by support means Vsuch as, for example, a suction holding mechanism of a transfer device of which only the suction holding member '70 is shown. )When theV suction holding member '70 is connected to a vacuum source, the upper cage is supported; when the inside 72 of the suction holding member 70 is connected to air at atmospheric pressure (after the cages 1t) and 12 have been positioned in lapped relation) theV cage 1t) is released.

The cages 16 and 12 are moved axially toward each other until the electrode extension portions 22', 24', 32',

34', 36 and 46 each engages'its corresponding aperture .48 to 58 of the adjacent spanning plate of the other cage,

and the shorter spacer plate of each cage contactsrthe Y,long or spanning plate of the other cage. j After the Y plate of theother cage, someof the electrode extending *Y Vasesino Y s s portions (the anode; extensionV portions 30 and 46 in the` tube illustrated) which extend through vthe adjacent spanning plate are deformed, as by being bent i-n a transl* verse direction, for fixing adjacent spanned and spanning Y spacer plates together and thus integrating the two cages into a single mount.

Fig. 4 illustrates a tube 2 9' similar toV that shown Vin Figs. 1 to 3 and illustrating another aspect of the invention. While at least one edge of each spacer plate in theV tube of Figs. l to 3 Vengages ya portion of the envelope, the short spacer plates may instead have a relatively small transverse extent. As shown in Fig. 4, a short spacer plate 16a may have a transverse extent sufiicientrtospan the cage 10a, the spacer plate being spaced froml the envelope 6a of the tube. -Only the long spacer plate 20a` in this tube engages a portion of the inside Walls-of the envelope. This arrangement, makes use of a smaller quantity of spacer plate material, and, since the spacer plate material is usually mica (a relatively costly matev rial), consequently proves advantageous in the mass production of such tubes. Also, this arrangement allows the short spacer plate 16a referred to to be made in a shape having bilateral symmetry. This shape affords a greater degree of freedom of orientation in manufacturing the plural cage structure. A

Thus itis seen that the invention provides an improved plural cage electron tube mount which lends itself to relativeiylow cost assembling techniques by being cornprised of relatively simple, self-supporting sub-assembly structures.

What is claimed is:

1. An electron tube mount comprising two electrode,V Y

cages each including two spacer plates, one'of the plates of each of said cages extending substantially only across one of said cagesV and the other of the plates of each of said cages spanning both of said cages, whereby each of said cages is adapted to be separately assembled between Vsaid one of said plates and said other of said plates to form a separate self-supporting structure, and two ofsaid structures are adapted to be fixe-d into a composite twocage structure. Y

2. A plural cage structure comprising two'electrode cages each including two at spaced-apart spacer plates,

one of the plates ofeach of said cages extending substantially only across one of said cages and the other Vof the plates of each of said cages having an extension portion spanning the other of said cages and with said extension portion of eachV of said other of saidV plates lapped Y `adapted to be iixed into a composite two-cage structure.

3. An electron tube mount comprising-two elongated electrode cages each including at opposite ends twoat spaced-apart spacer plates, each of said cages having a plurality of electrodes each having portions extending through the plates of its cage, `one of the plates ofreach Vof said cages extending substantially only across one ofV said cages and the other of the plates -of'each of said cages having an extension portion spanning the other of said cages and with said spacer plate extension portion of 'Y eachof said cages lapped over said lone of said plates of the other cage, the portions of theV electrodes extending through each of the spanned plates also extending through its spanning plate extension portion for fixing thespanned and spanning spacer plates to each other. Y

.4. A self-supporting electron tube'cage adapted to be* i integrated. with a like cageV to forma composite, twocage structure, rsaid cage comprising anV elongated electrode assembly having aV spacer plate iixed to each end thereof, one of sai-d plates having a transverse extent'sufficient to span said cage and the other of saidiplates hav- ,l

ing a transverse extent sufficient to span said cage and having Ian extension portion adapted `to span at least a portion of la like cage positioned adjacent to said cage, whereby two of said cages are each adapted `to be separately assembled between said two of said spacer plates to form separate, self-supporting cages and then fixed with the `other cage into a composite structure.

5. A yself-supporting electro-n tube cage Iadapted to be integrated with a like cage to form a composite, two-cage structure, said cage .comprising an elongated electrode assembly having a spacer plate xed to each end thereof, one of said plates having a transverse extent suicient to span said cage and the other of 4said plates having a transverse extent suiiicient to span said cage and having an extension portion adapted to span at least a portion of a like cage positioned adjacent to said cage, said extension portion having at least one aperture adapted to receive a portion of an electrode assembly of said like cage, whereby two of said cages are each adapted to be separately assembled between said two of said spacer plates to -forrn separate, self-supporting cages and then xed with the other cage into la composite structure.

6. An electron tube comprising an envelope containing -a plural cage mount including two electrode cages each including two spacer plates, one of 'the plates of each of said cages extending substantially only `across one of said cages and contacting the inner wall of said envelope at one edge of said one of said plates, and the `other of the pl-ates of each of said cages spanning both of said cages and contacting opposite sides of said inner wall at opposite edges of said other of `said plates.

7. An electron tube comprising an envelope containing a plural cage mount including two electrode cages each including two dat spaced-apart 'spacer plates, one of the plates of each of said cages extending substantially only across one of said cages and being spaced from the inner wall o said envelope and the other of the plates of each of said cages having an extension portion spanning the other of said cages and contacting opposite sides of said inner wall at opposite edges of said yother of said plates, land with said extension portion of each of said other of said plates lapped over said one of said plates of the other cage, and each of said extension portions being xed to the cage spanned by said portion.

8. A method of making an electron tube mount coruprised of two elongated electrode cages each including an electrode assembly having at one end thereof a iirst spacer plate secured to and spanning only one of said cages and at the opposite end thereof a second spacer plate secured to and spanning both of said cages; said method comprising the steps of positioning said cages .in axial alignment and with the electrode lassemblies of each of said cages axially spaced and on opposite sides of a reference plane parallel `to the axes of said cages and with said second plates of each of said cages adjacent to each other, moving said cages axially toward each other until each of said second plates contacts one of said first plates of the other cage, and tixing each of the contacting plates together to form a composite, two-cage mount.

9. A method of making an electron tube mount comprised of two elongated electrode cages each including an electrode Iassembly having 4at one end thereof a rst spacer plate secured to and spanning only one of said cages and at the opposite end Ithereof -a second spacer plate secured to and spanning both of said cages; said method lcomprising the steps of positioning 4said `cages in Iaxial Kalignment and with the electrode assemblies of each of said cages on opposite sides of a reference plane par- -allel to the axes of said cages -and with the ends of each of said cages having said 'iirst plate, facing in opposite directions; moving said c-ages axially toward each other until each of said second plates contacts one of said first plates of the other cage; and :xing each of the contacting plates together to form a composite, two-cage mount.

10. A method of making an electron tube mount cornpr-ised of two self-supporting, elongated electrode cages each including at opposite ends two dat spacer plates spaced the same distance Iapart as the spacer plates of the other cage, and an electrode assembly having electrode portions extending through the plates ot its cage, and with -a rst of the plates of each of said cages extending substantially only across the cage `and a second of the plates ot each of said cages having an extension portion spanning the other of said cages and lapped over the iirst plate of said other of said cages, and with the spacer plate extension portion of each of said cages having apertures receiving therethrough the portions or" the electrodes extending through the spanned cage; said method comprising the steps of positioning said cages in axial alignment and with said rst plate of each 4cage `adiacent to the rst plate of the other cage and 'with the electrode assemblies of each of said cages axially spaced and on opposite sides of a reference plane parallel to the axes ot said cages, and with said spanning portion of each of said second plates in axial alignment with `said r-st plate of the other cage; moving said cages axially toward each other vuntil each of said rst plates contacts the second plate of the other of said cages and said electrode portions adjacent to said tirst plate of each cage extends through the apertures in the second plate ot the other cage; and deforming at least some of said electrode portions for tixinfr adjacent spanned and spanning spacer plates together, whereby la composite, two-cage electron tube mount is formed.

11. A method of making an electron tube structure; said method comprising the steps of 'making two sell"- supporting, elongated electrode cages each including lan electrode assembly having at one end thereof a first spacer plate spanning only one of said cages and at the opposite end thereof .a second spacer plate spanning beth of said cages; positioning said cages in Iaxial Ialignment and with the electrode assemblies of each of said cages on opposite sides of a reference. plane parallel to the axes of said cages and with the ends of each of said cages having said rst plate, facing in opposite directions; moving said 4cages axially toward each other until each of said second plates contacts one of said rst plates of `the other cage; :and iixing each of the contacting plates together to form a composite, two-cage structure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,365 Wise Mar. 17, 1936 2,340,670 Lehman Feb. l, 1944 2,518,308 Gronros et al. Aug. 8, 1950 2,644,998 Klinker et al. July 14, 1953 

